A RETAILER campaigning for a fully pedestrianised Colchester High Street has carried out his own traffic survey.

John Lonergan, owner of Andrews TV Direct, Colchester, wants to see all vehicles banned from the road to encourage more shoppers.

He said Colchester Council and Essex County Council plans to allow access to taxis, buses and motorcycles, do not go far enough to improve the shopping experience.

Mr Lonergan counted the number of each of the three vehicles excluded from the traffic ban on Tuesday. He presented his findings to Colchester’s full council meeting on Wednesday having counted 65 buses, 14 taxis and four motorbikes.

He said: “Taking out just cars is not the best solution for a free and relaxed High Street.

“We need a better, safer shopping environment.

“Banning a portion of vehicles will make people let their guard down and perhaps not be aware of the traffic dangers that will still exist.”

Mr Lonergan said full pedestrianisation will allow Colchester to return to its roots as a market town.

He said stalls running along High Street would attract more shoppers from neighbouring towns and wants the council to follow the example of others.

He added: “Big names like Primark and John Lewis have gone to Chelmsford which has a traffic-free high street.”

Now he intends to submit his own ideas to the county council.

They include a proposed bus route up North Hill, along Head Street and down St John’s Street and early-morning delivery bays outside shops, which become disabled parking spaces after a certain time of day.

Lyn Barton, councillor responsible for renaissance, said: “We have been working on this for the past 18 months with Essex County Council, which has the expertise in traffic regulation orders.

“I would suggest he puts all his suggestions to the county council and the whole area will be looked at again before anything is implemented.”